Is it an .rpm file. Or a tar.gz file. With .rpm files all you do is right click and choose install or run the package manager for the desktop you use, for instance in Gnome it's gnorpm.

If it's source then you need to compile it first. You need to check if it has dependencies, use the configure command to customize (may or may not have this option) use the make command (must have a compiler installed) and the make install command.

Sorry if I left anything out but I'm typing this one-handed cause I don't want to put my bong down.